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1992 Mazda MX3

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 11 of 44 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Seat Belts. Review the 30 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Suspension. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports

Suspension complaints

6 reports
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168,000 miles · Jul 22, 2011
Seat BeltsSuspension

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 MAZDA MX3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT COIL SPRING FRACTURED CONTINUOUSLY. THE COIL SPRING WAS REPAIRED BY THE CONTACT THE FIRST THREE TIMES THE FAILURE OCCURRED YET THE FAILURE PERSISTED. IN ADDITION, BOTH THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELTS WERE INOPERABLE. THE DEALER WAS…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 MAZDA MX3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT COIL SPRING FRACTURED CONTINUOUSLY. THE COIL SPRING WAS REPAIRED BY THE CONTACT THE FIRST THREE TIMES THE FAILURE OCCURRED YET THE FAILURE PERSISTED. IN ADDITION, BOTH THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELTS WERE INOPERABLE. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED WHO ADVISED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE VEHICLE FOR BOTH FAILURES (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBERS: 97V116000 - SUSPENSION: FRONT: SPRINGS: COIL SPRINGS AND 97V211000- SEAT BELTS: FRONT: WEBBING) YET THE PARTS WOULD NEED TO BE ORDERED IN ORDER TO COMPLETE THE REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS LEFT WITH THE DEALER BUT WAS NEVER REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO CONFIRMED THAT THERE WERE TWO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE AND ADVISED THAT THEY WOULD GIVE HIM A RETURN CALL BUT NEVER DID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 168,000.

NHTSA ODI #10414636

100,000 miles · May 15, 2008
Suspension

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 MAZDA MX3. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE FRONT WHEELS ON THE VEHICLE MOVED UNCONTROLLABLY. A MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FRONT COILS SPRINGS FAILED. THE MAZDA DEALER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 97V116000 (SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS). THE MANUFACTURER WOULD N…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 MAZDA MX3. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE FRONT WHEELS ON THE VEHICLE MOVED UNCONTROLLABLY. A MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FRONT COILS SPRINGS FAILED. THE MAZDA DEALER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 97V116000 (SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS). THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 117,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ODI #10227855

Mileage unknown · Apr 23, 2004
Suspension

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER DROVE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT BOTH FRONTAL UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO WORN OUT PARTS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10071473

Mileage unknown · Feb 12, 2002
Seat BeltsSuspension

I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO NORTHPARK MAZDA/ISUZU AND THE GUY AT THE REPAIR SHOP SAID THEY WOULDN'T DO IT BECAUSE MY RECALL HAD ALREADY BEEN SERVICED. HOWEVER IF THAT IS TRUE THEN WHOMEVER DID IT BEFORE PUT DEFECTIVE PARTS ON IT BECAUSE THEY ARE MESSING UP TO THIS DATE. THE PROBLEM LIES WITH BOTH AUTOMATIC SEATBELTS AND BOTH FRONT CO…

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I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO NORTHPARK MAZDA/ISUZU AND THE GUY AT THE REPAIR SHOP SAID THEY WOULDN'T DO IT BECAUSE MY RECALL HAD ALREADY BEEN SERVICED. HOWEVER IF THAT IS TRUE THEN WHOMEVER DID IT BEFORE PUT DEFECTIVE PARTS ON IT BECAUSE THEY ARE MESSING UP TO THIS DATE. THE PROBLEM LIES WITH BOTH AUTOMATIC SEATBELTS AND BOTH FRONT COIL SPRINGS.

NHTSA ODI #758148

Mileage unknown · Sep 8, 1999
Suspension

THIS VEHICLE HAD THE PROTECTIVE SHIELD PLACED ON TO PROTECT THE TIRES IF THE SPRINGS BROKE, THE SPRINGS BROKE, AND THE TIRES WERE STILL DAMAGED. THE DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #847135

Mileage unknown · Jan 30, 1997
Suspension

NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF VEHICLE WHEN TURNING.

NHTSA ODI #514329

Official recalls

3

15V674000 · Electrical System:ignition:switch

Oct 19, 2015

Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 1989-1998 MPV, 1990-1995 323, 1990-1998 Protege, 1992-1993 MX-3, 1993-1995 929, 1993-1997 MX-6, and 1993-1998 626 vehicles. In the affected vehicles, grease applied to the contact points inside the ignition switch may become conductive and overheat.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the ignition switch overheats there would be an increased risk of a fire.

Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ignition switch, free of charge. The recall began on December 17, 2015. Owners may contact Mazda Customer Experience Center at 1-800-222-5500, option#6. Mazda's number for this recall is 8715J.

97V211000 · Seat Belts:front:webbing

Nov 18, 1997

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH FRONT SEAT AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELTS. THE RAIL OF THE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT CAN WEAR SUFFICIENTLY SUCH THAT THE CABLE WHICH RETRACTS THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY CAN BECOME JAMMED IN THE RAIL RENDERING THE SHOULDER BELT INOPERATIVE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A SEAT OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE PASSIVE SHOULDER BELT ASSEMBLY WITH A MODIFIED ONE (WITH ADDITIONAL DUST LIP) IN VEHICLES WHICH HAVE EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM. IN VEHICLES IN WHICH THE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT FUNCTIONS PROPERLY, THE RAILS WILL BE INSPECTED AND REPLACED WITH MODIFIED RAILS IF THEY EXCEED THE INSPECTION CRITERIA.

97V116000 · Suspension:front:springs:coil Springs

Jul 22, 1997

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING STATES: CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, NW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND WASHINGTON, DC. IN AREAS WHERE LARGE QUANTITIES OF ROAD SALT ARE USED, CORROSIVE PITS CAN DEVELOP ON THE SURFACE OF THE FRONT SUSPENSION COIL SPRING. REPEATED USE CAN EVENTUALLY CAUSE THE COIL SPRING TO BREAK AND A TIRE COULD BE PUNCTURED FROM CONTACT WITH THE BROKEN COIL SPRING.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION INCREASES THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A GUARD ASSEMBLY WHICH WILL PREVENT THE BROKEN COIL SPRING FROM CONTACTING THE TIRE. IN ADDITION TO PERFORMING THE RECALL CAMPAIGN, MAZDA IS EXTENDING THE WARRANTY COVERAGE ON THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS FOR THE LIFT OF THE VEHICLE. IF OWNERS HAVE ALREADY PAID FOR THE REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT OF THESE FRONT COIL SPRINGS, DUE TO ROAD SALT DAMAGE, MAZDA WILL REIMBURSE THESE OWNERS FOR REASONABLE EXPENSES.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

3

RQ98001 · Front Coil Spring Fracture

Opened Mar 3, 1998 · Closed Nov 16, 1998

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension:front:springs:coil Springs

There is no summary currently available

EA94039 · Auto Restraint System Fail

Opened Nov 30, 1994 · Closed Nov 26, 1997

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts

There is no summary currently available

PE94075 · Alternator Fires

Opened Oct 12, 1994 · Closed Dec 21, 1994

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System

There is no summary currently available